Uttar
Pardesh (U.P.) has got many firsts to its credit in India. Politically
it is the first state in India where a Dalit woman has become Chief
Minister for the fourth time. U.P. supports the largest population
in India. It has also the largest population of the Scheduled Castes
(SCs) numbering about 35.1 millions. It has also the highest number
of the atrocity cases on the Dalits in India. U.P. has the largest
number of women and children suffering from malnutrition. U.P. has
also the highest incidence of Polio cases in whole of the country.
At present U.P. is also the most corrupt State of India.

Now with
so many firsts to its credit where do the Dalits of U.P. stand in
comparison with Dalits of other States of India on development parameters?
To get a true picture of their position it will be proper to judge
them on the following development parameters:-

Female
and Male ratio: The sex ratio of female and male of U.P Dalits is
900 per 1000 as against the national average of 936 in respect of
all Dalits. Similarly the sex ratio among children of 0-6 year’s
age group is 930 against the national average of 988.

These figures
show that in respect of sex ratio U.P Dalits are far behind the Dalits
of other states at national level. This indicates the low position
and poor condition of Dalit females and children in U.P. It is not
only the result of feticide and infanticide due to preference of male
child over girl child and poverty but also due to incessant and organized
discrimination and malnutrition...

According
to National Family and Health Survey Report 2005-06 the percentage
of women suffering from malnutrition in U.P was 47. Similarly out
of 52% children suffering from malnutrition and 46% were stunted in
growth. The child mortality rate was 73 percent as compared with 61%
of Bihar. This survey also indicated that in the age group of 15 to
49 years, 34% women were underweight. During this survey it also came
to light that there were 73 still births out of 1000 live births which
were higher than 67.6% at national level nine years ago. At this point
of time there were only 22% institutional deliveries against the national
average of 34%. This survey also revealed that only 22% children had
taken full vaccination where as the state government had claimed to
have achieved hundred percent vaccinations in the years 2001-02. The
mortality rate was 8.7% which is just next highest to Bihar which
was 9.0 percent.

Literacy
Rate: According to 2001 Census Report, the literacy rate of U.P Dalits
stands at 43% whereas the national average of the Dalits is 54.7%.
The literacy rate of U.P Dalits both males and females is 60.3% and
30.5% respectively whereas the national average of Dalits is 66.6%
and 41.9% respectively. In Bahraich district the literacy rate of
Dalit female is as low as 9 percent. As such U.P Dalits lag behind
the Dalits of many other states of India in terms of male and female
literacy rates. According to Dr. B.R.Ambedkar the progress of a society
is measured by the progress of women. But the position of Dalit women
in U.P. is very low. It also badly reflects on the poor performance
of U.P government on education front.

Level of
Education: Out of literate Dalits of U.P 38% have no level of education
or have got education below primary level. The proportion of literates
who have attained education up to primary and middle levels is 27.1%
and 18.5% respectively. The percentage of literates educated up to
matric and higher secondary is 13.3% only. Graduates and above are
3 percent. The non-technical and technical diploma holders constitute
a meager of 0.1% only.

School
Dropout Rate: As per the Report of Basic Education Directorate U.P,
during 1991 the dropout rate of children at primary school stage was
45.02 percent. As such every second child leaves the school before
completion of primary education. The dropout rate for girls was 46.25%
which was higher than that of 44% for boys. This rate has not changed
much even after that. It is well known that for various reasons, the
dropout rate of Dalit children is much higher than general caste children.
It has a direct bearing on the literacy rates of Dalits.

Untouchability
and Discrimination in Schools: It has come out from various newspaper
reports that untouchability and discrimination persists in U.P. government
school. It is often reflected in the form of boycott of mid-day meal
prepared by Dalit cooks in primary and middle schools. In spite of
government orders for appointment of Dalit cooks on priority basis,
it has been found during a survey that Dalit cooks have been appointed
in 17% schools only. The neglect and complacency on the part of government
machinery in implementing its own orders has given impetus to the
incidents of boycott of mid-day meals prepared by Dalit cooks. It
is a pity that punitive action was taken in a few cases only and many
others have been hushed up. Apart from it, many incidents of caste
discrimination and maltreatment of Dalit students by high caste teachers
have been reported in press. This situation badly reflects on the
attitude of Mayawati Government towards the incidence of untouchability
in government schools.

Work Participation
Rate: According to 2001 Census Report, the work participation rate
(WPR) of the Scheduled Castes (SCs) population of U.P is 34.7% which
is lower than that of all SCs at the national level. There has been
a slight decrease of 0.3% in WPR during 1991-2001. Both the male and
female WPR (46.9 and 21.2% respectively) are lower than those recorded
for all SCs at the national level (50.7 and 29...4% respectively).
Among the total workers, 65.25 are Main Workers, which is lower than
that recorded for all SCs at the national level (73%). As such 34.8%
of Dalits are casual workers.

The above
statistics make it clear that U.P. Dalits lag behind in WPR as compared
with Dalits at the national level which is reflected in large scale
unemployment and consequent poverty.

Dalits
as Agriculture Workers: Agriculture Labourers constitute the highest
proportion (42.5%) among total SCs workers. This is lower than the
national average of 45.6% recorded by all SCs in this category. Cultivators
constitute 30.9 percent. Other workers account for 22.2% against the
national average of 30.5 percent. Workers engaged in House Hold Industry
(HHI) constitute 4.3 percent only.

From the
above it transpires that in U.P majority of the workers (75%) are
agriculture labourers whereas there is no official arrangement for
payment of minimum wages and assured employment. According to the
findings of a study it has been found that the average employment
of agriculture laborers in U.P. is 60 to 80 days only during a year.
On account of lack of development of agriculture in U.P. the average
of Dalit agriculture workers is lower than the national average. Apart
from backward agriculture, not a single heavy industry has come up
in U.P. during the last 15-20 years. As such no employment has been
created during this period.

National
Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) has been in place for the
last two years but on account of rampant corruption and utter neglect
on the part of implementing government machinery the job card holders
could hardly get 8 day’s average employment during a year as
against the guaranteed 100 days employment. Only 6.23 percent families
got the benefit of this scheme. On the other hand Mayawati has threatened
to abolish this scheme as and when she becomes the Prime Minster of
India. It is because this scheme has been initiated by the Central
Government headed by Congress Party with whom she has got adverse
relations. Her statement had an adverse effect on the attitude of
the official machinery which even otherwise is quite complacent in
the implementation of such schemes concerning poor men.

Dalits
below Poverty Line: As per the statistics of 2004-05, the percentage
of persons Below Poverty Line (BPL) in U.P. was 32.8% where as the
national average was 27.5 percent. Thus the percentage of Dalits in
BPL category is quite high. According to National Sample Survey Organization
(NSSO) survey for 1991-2002, the percentage of Dalits in this category
was 44 in U.P. As compared with the percentage for BPL in Bihar (59.8)
and Orissa (51.8) states, U.P. was only a little better placed. Per
Capita Income and Per Capita Consumption in U.P. is also quite low
as compared with all India level. The actual figure of BPL for Dalits
in U.P. may be around 50-60% indicating very high incidence of poverty.

According
to the Statistics Diary of U.P. for 2007 the average Per Capita Income
at 1993-94 rates during 2004-05 was Rest. 6138 only i.e. Rest. 512
per month for a family of five members. It was Rest. 13316 during
2005-06 at current prices i.e. Rest. 1101 only for a family of five
persons. It works out be Rest. 3.40 and Rs.7.30 only per head per
day. These figures show very low per capita income in U.P. Consequently
the per capita income of Dalits is bound to be much lower than this
figure.

Land Holdings
and Land Area with the Dalits: According to the Census of Agriculture
Holdings in 1991, SC’s share in agriculture holdings was 17.15%
in marginal, 11.6% in small, 7.4% in medium and 7.4% in semi medium
holdings. Only 2.4% large holdings were in the possession of Dalits.
In respect of area of holdings SCs had only 16.5% of marginal, 11.5%
of small, 7.3% of semi medium and 4.2% of medium sized and 2.1% of
large holdings. As such Dalits’ share in the land holdings was
16.35% and 10.5% in the total operational area in 1991 where as their
population share in the state was 21...15 percent.

The 2001
Census Report shows that 30.9% Dalits were in the category of Cultivators
where as according to 1991 Census this percentage was 42.03 percent.
As such there has occurred a fall of about 12% in this category during
the period from 1991 to 2001. as a result a large number of Dalits
have fallen from the category of Cultivators to the category of landless
labourers during the last decade. This downfall shows their disempowerment
in place of empowerment as trumpeted by Mayawati. This situation is
quite worrisome. The high level of corruption in poverty alleviation
and various welfare schemes coupled with complacency on the part of
implementing government machinery has deprived the poor and Dalits
of the intended benefits. On account of this deprivation they were
forced to sell their land holdings for sustenance.

Some land
has been distributed to the landless people including Dalits during
the last 32 years to empower them economically. On the one hand this
land was not fertile enough and workable; secondly most of the recipients
of this land could not get possession thereof. Where ever they were
given possession most of them have been thrown out by the powerful
illegal occupants. The latest example is the hunger strike and dharna
(sit down) by the Dalits of Hardoi district before the Vidhan Sabha
Bhavan, Lucknow. Their main grievance was that they could not get
possession of the land allotted to them 32 years ago. In spite of
it they have failed to get the possession till today. Now they are
planning to resort to fast till death. Similar situation prevails
in other districts also and Mayawati has failed to get them the possession
as the culprits have become Sarvjan supporters of her Party (Bahujan
Samaj Party). According to the National Remote Sensing Agency there
was a total area of 3.8 million hectares of waste land (about 14%
of total geographical area) which could be developed and distributed
to the land less people but the present government has proposed to
plant jetropha on it. Similarly millions of hectares of land is still
under the control of people of dominant castes and Mayawati is no
mood to touch them as they are now her Party supporters as SARVJAN.
In reality land reforms have no priority with Mayawati for political
reasons whereas these are crucial for empowerment of Dalits.

Lack of
Development Agenda: From the above it transpires that U.P Dalits are
more backward than all the Dalits of India except those of Bihar,
Madhya Pardesh and Orissa. It is true that since1995 Mayawati has
become the Chief Minister of U.P for the fourth time. Apart from others,
is she not responsible for the underdevelopment of U.P Dalits to a
large extent? It is a common knowledge that neither in the past nor
at present Mayawati does not have any development agenda for Dalits
or the State. In the absence of any development agenda neither the
Dalits nor the State has witnessed any development. Sudha Pai has
commented, “Bahujan Samaj Party is an Ambedkarite party not
in the ideological or programmatic sense, but purely in political
terms. Its leadership has a limited vision; it is not interested in
social transformation or revolution. Its aim is merely to make some
changes in the existing system, which would give power in the hands
of Dalits” (Deprivation and Development in contradiction of
Uttar Pradesh in “ Deprivation and Inclusive Development-2006”
edited by D.M.Diwakar and G.P.Mishra, published by Manak Publishers
Pvt. Ltd. India)

The State
government has been spending major portion of its annual budget on
Non- Plan expenditure. Billions of rupees have been spent on extravagant
public shows, parks and installation of statues including heron. Could
not this public money be spent on the development of education, health
services and other welfare schemes? The politics of symbolism and
tokenism pursued by Mayawati has given some emotional elation to the
Dalits of U.P. but no development. The rampant corruption has eaten
away the benefits of all the welfare schemes.

Dalits
as worst victims of Corruption: According to a recent study by Transparency
International U.P. is at present the most corrupt state in the whole
of India. U.P.’s underdevelopment is the painful result of this
corruption. Mayawati and a former Chief Minister, Mr. Mulayam Singh
Yadav is under the scanner of Central Bureau of Investigation for
possession of disproportionate assets as against their known sources
of income. Their political and personal corruption has badly infected
the bureaucracy and public life at large. As a result of it the various
welfare schemes like N.R...E.G.S; P.D.S; I.C.D.S; Pension and Mother
Welfare etc. have fallen prey to open corruption and misuse. It has
deprived the poor along with Dalits of the intended benefits thereof.
Education, Health and development of Infrastructure have been the
low priority areas for Mayawati government.

Again
according to Sudha Pai, “There is evidence that the conditions
of the poorer sections in U.P. which include the major chunk of the
Dalits have become worse during the 1990s. The National Human Development
Report (NHDR) has pointed out the poor conditions of life in comparison
with many other states. The State’s position in terms of Human
Development Index was 29th in 1981 and has fallen to 31 out of 32
states (NHDR 2001:140-41). Similarly the Monthly Per Capita Consumption
Expenditure registered a fall in the State between 1993-94 and 1999-2000;
that this is due to a drastic reduction in the consumption expenditure
on food between two periods clearly suggest deterioration in the standard
of living. This down slide took place when the B.S.P. supported by
B.J.P. was in power in U.P. for the most part (National Herald, Lucknow
May 1, 2002). Despite the fact that the B.S.P. had formed a government
twice during the 1990s and was again in power with the support of
the B.J.P., the conditions of Dalits have not improved according to
the draft proposals of the Tenth Five Year Plan (Jha, 28 December,
The Times of India, New Delhi-2002). The B.S.P. did not put forward
any policies for improving the socioeconomic conditions of the subaltern
sections of the Dalits. The emphasis has been on political empowerment
only.”

Atrocities
on Dalits: As mentioned earlier U.P. has the highest incidence of
atrocities on Dalits. It is on account of high Dalit population, feudal
society and above all complacency on the part of government machinery
in preventing or dealing with it effectively. The State has the old
tradition of every Chief Minister trying to show the crime figures
less than his/her predecessor’s period. Mayawati is no exception
to it rather she is very stricter about it. During her first stint
as Chief Minister in 1995 she had created a terror among police officers
by suspending, transferring or punishing them for even a slight increase
in crime figures. During her second term in 1997 she issued orders
prohibiting use of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention
of Atrocities Act, 1989) thereby earning the distinction of being
the first Chief Minister of India to slam this Central Act contrary
to the absence of any powers to do so. This was done under the pretext
of preventing its misuse which is actually a lame excuse to placate
her Sarvjan high caste supporters. Later on in 2003 it was withdrawn
on paper after a lot of hue and cry was raised by public and it was
challenged in the court but it continues to be in practice till today.
The result is that lot of atrocities are being committed on Dalits
but the official crime figures are being kept low to project low incidence
of this crime. As such Dalits are victims of double cross. Due to
non registration of their cases they are neither getting any legal
relief nor are they getting any monetary compensation which otherwise
they would have got. The perpetrators of these atrocities are going
scot-free. The National Crime Report for 2006 issued by National Crime
Records Bureau also projects U.P. state having the highest number
of atrocities against Dalits during 2005.

According
to one survey based on the News Paper reports during 2007 as any as
110 Dalit women fell victims to rape in U.P. but only 50% cases were
registered by police and the tragedy was that as many as 85% rapes
were committed on unmarried Dalit girls. In the same manner out of
19 cases of murder with rape 50%, in cases of murder 25%, in cases
of molestation 71% and in cases of kidnapping 80% of the cases were
not registered at all. These figures relate to some important News
Papers only. The actual incidence of crime and the number of cases
may be much higher. It is generally accepted that the number of cases
registered by police is hardly 40% of actual crime. This situation
depicts the miserable plight of U.P. Dalits under Mayawati.

Dr. Ambedkar’s
concept of a Political Party and Political Power: While describing
the role of a Political Party in the constitution of the Scheduled
Castes Federation, Dr. Ambedkar said “A Political Party does
not exist for winning elections but for Educating, Agitating and Organizing
the People.” But Mayawati’s Party has learnt the art of
winning election only and totally rejected the real role of a political
party as described by Dr. Ambedkar. The result of this strategy is
before us. Her very constituency is the victim of underdevelopment
and her personal corruption.

Dr. Ambedkar
while detailing the qualities of a leader said,” Your leaders
must have the courage and caliber to match the topmost leaders of
any political party. The party without efficient leaders comes to
nil.” Now it is the high time that we assess our leaders including
Mayawati on these parameters.

. Dr. Ambedkar’s
often repeated slogan that” Political Power is the key to all
Social Progress” has failed at Mayawati’s hands. It is
because she has no Dalit agenda for the socio-economic empowerment
of Dalits. In fact she lacks a vision whish is the essential qualification
of any leader. Dr. Ambedkar while discussing the role of Politics
said,” Politics is not the be-all and end-all of the nation’s
life. We must study the Indian Problem in all its aspects, political,
social, religious, and economic and fight with own accords for the
solution of the down trodden.” But unfortunately for Mayawati
achieving the political power is the be-all and end-all of her politics..

Her personal
corruption has taken away the benefits of various welfare schemes.
She is likely to be charge sheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation
for possession of disproportionate assets to the tune of Rest. 30
crores and she has further added Rest. 60 crores to her income during
2007 without having any known source of income.

While defining
the role of administration Dr. Ambedkar remarked,” Purity of
Administration is necessary for the Welfare of the people… It
may be difficult to provide food and clothing to the people but why
should it be difficult to give the people a pure Government”.
But unfortunately Mayawti has failed to give pure government. Her
personal corruption and unprincipled politics has infected all the
branches of the Government At present 60% of her ministers are having
criminal records. She herself has proved the dictum that Power corrupts
and absolute power corrupts absolutely. She has also earned for U.P.
the dubious distinction of being the Most Corrupt State of India.

Dr. Ambedkar
once remarked that his opponents did levy all sorts of allegations
against him but none could dare to raise a finger at his character
and integrity but can Mayawati dare to make even an iota of this claim.
The answer is big NO. During a meeting of the Independent Labour Party
Dr. Ambedkar remarked that Dalit Labourers have two enemies: one is
Brahmanism and the other is Capitalism. But now Mayawati has embraced
both these enemies. Brahmanism in the shape of Sarvjan (high caste
Hindus) and Capitalism in the shape of liberalization, privatization
and corporatization.

Dr. Ambedkar
gave topmost importance to struggle and grass-root level social and
political movements. Actually these movements formed the basis of
his politics. But Mayawati’s Party is totally bereft of it.
It is true that in the absence of grass- root level movements and
public pressure the political power is likely to be misused for self
aggrandizement as has happened in the case of Mayawati. Apart from
amassing wealth through questionable means she is misusing public
money to make parks and install statues including her own in an effort
to immortalize her.

According
to Dr. Ambedkar,” These ideas if hero-worship will bring ruin
on you if you do not nip them in the bud. By deifying an individual,
you repose faith for your safety and salvation in one single individual
with the result that you get into habit of dependence and indifferent
to your duty. If you fall a victim to these ideas, your fate will
be worse than logs of wood in the national stream of life. Your struggle
will come to naught.” But in the case of Mayawati this warning
of Dr. Ambedkar is totally being ignored by her blind followers.

What should
be done? Now the question arises that when Mayawati has failed to
use political power as a key to social progress then what should be
done. In this case we have to revert to the earlier quoted slogan
of Dr. Ambedkar which says,” A Political Party does not exist
for winning elections but for Educating, Agitating and Organizing
the People.’ It requires the adoption of a path of struggle
and grass-root level movements by taking up public issues. A definite
Dalit Agenda has to be worked out and the political parties have to
be forced to adopt it. Land reforms have to be first item on the Dalit
Agenda because only lands possession only can empower them economically
and free them from the bondage. Therefore Dalits must launch a vigorous
movement for allotment of surplus and waste land available in the
State. Fast track courts could be instituted to expedite the disposal
of more than 5,000 land ceiling cases pending in the courts since
many years. These cases involve millions of hectares of land. Unless
the Dalits launch a similar land movement as was launched by Republican
Party of India during 1964-65.

Without
a vision and definite Dalit liberation agenda the attaining of political
power is not going to solve the problems of the Dalits as well as
that of the State. Structural changes and improvement in the delivery
system only can remove the poverty syndrome prevailing amongst the
Dalits. Grass-root level movements are the key to keep the political
leaders under control and make them answerable to the people. Bureaucracy
also responds properly under public pressure only. It is the high
time that Mayawati’s role in the under development of the Dalits
and the State is assessed critically and dispassionately and remedial
measures taken as early as possible. Otherwise it will prove to be
a missed opportunity.

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